Dual wheel assembly



. l R r L O I l vg Jan. 23, 1945. QS, ASH

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 8, 1942 2 SheeLS--Shee1'l l T N m04.

A TORNEY Janes, 1945. 'C' s ASH 2,367,748

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 l l l I 67 6.5 4 5 fm l H, y X 44 50 y f Z4 j j/I I /l// l 4mml; n/ Y 52 V k 50 'i um 55 I i z2 5 2/ ATTORNEY Patented` Jan. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g 2,361,748 DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY charles s. Asn, Milford, Mien. Application April a, 1942, semi Ne. 438,106

(ci. soi- 36) 4- Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dual wheel assemblies, and more particularly to new and useful improvements in dual wheels for use with semi-trailers and other non-driven dual wheels of sroad vehicles.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefroln, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting-a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the' principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section showing a modified embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section showing another modified embodiment of the invention.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved dual wheel assembly particularly adapted for use with trailers, semi-trailers and other road vehicles. A further object of the invention is the provision of the novel and improved dual wheel assembly using demountable wheels of conventional form, and in which the braking force is applied to one of the wheels through an axle shaft. thereby permitting the provision of ample braking area, and at the same time separating the braking means for the two wheels. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a dual wheel assembly utilizing duplicate demountable wheels which are connected together for coaxial independent rotation, and in which-the inner` wheel may be demounted and remounted with a minimum of dilculty, and without requiring the removal of the outer wheel or rim from its hub.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the dual wheel assembly includes an axle tube of moderate length on which is freely rotatable an elongated hub member to which the inner wheel is demountably attached'. On the outer portion of the elongated hub is rotatably mounted a shorter hub member to which the outer wheel is demountably attached. 'I'he inner wheel and its hub are held against axial movement by means of its bearings, while the outer wheel and its hub are held against axial movement by means of an axle shaft which extends from the outer end of the axle tube, is rotatably mounted and held against axial movement within the axle tube, and is detachably connected to the outer wheel hub. 'I'hereby the outer wheel hub maybe removed and'replaced without disturbing the axle shaft. Siutable braking means are provided for the wheels and may comprise a brake drum mounted on the inner side of the inner wheel and rotatable therewith, and a second brake drum mounted at the inner end of the axle shaft and rotatable with the outer wheel, suitable brake shoes or other cooperating braking means being provided for each of the brake drums. The dual wheel and brake assembly is connected to the vehicle in any suitable way, as by springs directly connected to the axle tubes, or by mounting the axle tubes in a separate frame.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention butare not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown byFigure 1 of the drawings thereis provided an axle tube I0 which extends from an outer-side of the vehicle toward, but not to, the center of the vehicle and this axle tube is provided with a spring pad I2 on which may be secured a convention-a1 leaf spring by which the axle tube I0 is secured to the vehicle. At its outer end the axle tube I0 is reduced in diameter, as at I4, and is provided with bearing seats on which the tapered roller bearings I6 and I8 are seated. An inner wheel hub 20 of generally tubular construction is mounted on the axle tube end I 4 by means oi the bearings I6 and I8, which not only provide for its rotation, but also hold the hub 20 against axial movement with reference to the axle ftube. Bearings I6 and I8 are seated within thel hub 20 in the usual manner, the outer bearing I8 being secured by means of nut 2| and lock washer 22 to the threaded end of the axle tube I0, and both bearings are sealed against dirt by means of the seals 23 and 24.

O'n its inner half, the inner wheel hub 20 is provided with a radially extending disk-like portion 28 formed integrally with the hub 20 and 'end 56 of an axle shaft 5|.

cular periphery fitting the inner seat of the strengthened by means ofthe Webs 21, and this disk-like portion is provided with suitable wheel mounting means by which the demountable Wheel 30 and its permanently attached rim 3|, may be mounted and held rigidly to the hub 20.

The inner wheel 30 is shown as of a conventional Budd demountable wheel type, and comprises the pneumatic tire support rim 3| having the usual removable flange 32 and locking ring 33 for securing the tire to the rim. To this rim is permanently attached the wheel portion comprising a deeply dished member 35 which is securely welded to the circular portion of the rim, as at 36, while the radially inward portion of the dish 35 terminates in a flat disk-like member 31 which is circularly apertured to pass over the wheel hub, and is provided with a circular series of beveled holes 39 to receive the correspondingly arranged series of wheel mounting studs 40 and their nuts 4|. The studs 40 and their nuts 4| are securely seated in the outer or peripheral edgeof the disk portion 26, and in general may be similar to the disclosure of my copending application, Serial Number 418,118, filed November 7, 1941.

The outer wheel hub 42 comprises a generally cylindrical member extending approximately onehalf the length of the inner wheel hub 20 and provided with an internal bushing 43 of `cylindrical shape to fit over the journal 44 forming the periphery of the outer half of the inner Wheel hub 20, thereby providing for the free and independent rotation of the outer wheel hub 42 on the inner wheel hub 20. At its inner end, hub 42 is provided with a radially extending-integral disk-like portion 46 which carries the wheel mounting studs 4|! arranged in a circular series. The outer wheel 45 is preferably a duplicate of the inner-wheel 30, andis 4demountably attached to the-outer Wheel hub in the same manner. A felt washer 44. is seated in an annular groove in the hub 26 and bears against the inner end of hub 42 to exclude dirt from the journal 44 and bushing 43.

Means are provided for holding the outer wheel hub 42 against axial movement, and for transmitting braking torque to the outer wheel. As

*embodied the outer Wheel hub 42 at its outer end is provided with an integral flange 46 extending radially inwardly and overlying the flanged Flange 50 has a cirhub end 48, and both the flange 50 and intumed hub end 46 are provided with a circular series of registering holes through which extend the bolts 52 by which the hub 42 and axle shaft 5| are restrained against independent rotation and axial movement.

Axle shaft 5| extends through the axle tube IIJ, and at its in n'er end is shouldered t0 receive ball bearing 54, the outer race of which is seated in collar 55 ofthe inner end of the axle tube Ill, thereby rotatably mounting shaft 5| inthe axle tube |0 and holding the. shaft 5| coaxial with reference to the hubs 20 and 42.

When it is desired to replace an inner tire, or to change the inner wheel 30 for any reason, this can easily be accomplished by removal of the nuts from bolts 52, and with both wheels jacked up from the ground, the outer wheel 45 and its hub 42 may then be slid axially from the end of `the inner wheel hub 20. With the outer wheel and hub removed the inner wheel mounting nuts 4| are accessible and may be removed thereby allowing removal of the inner wheel 30 and its tire with a minimum of time and trouble. The inner wheel 30 is remounted by reversing the steps recited above.

The outer wheel is, of course, demounted and remounted in the usual manner.

Separate braking means are provided for the two wheels. 'I'he inner wheel braking means comprises the cylindrical brake drum 60 which is mounted on the inner wheel mounting ange 26 by means of the slightly conical portion 6| which terminates in a, centrally apertured disk portion 62, the parts 60, 6| and 62 preferably being integral. The disk portion 62 is apertured to receive the mounting screws 64 by which the brake drum is rigidly secured to the Wheel mounting flange 26. The brake member 66, 6|, 62 is preferably of such a size that it is substantially enclosed within the dish of the Wheel and rim structure 30, 3| and is of a diameter to provide substantial clearance between the brake drum portion 60 and the rim 3|. Cooperating with the brake drum 60 is' conventional brake shoe mechauism 65 which isV supported on brake anchor bracket 61 secured to the axle tube l0. Conventional means (not shown) may be provided for expanding the brake shoes 65 into frictional engagement with the brake drum 60.

Braking means for the outer wheel is mounted at the inner end of the axle tube l0, and is connected to the outer wheel through the axle shaft 5|. As embodied there is provided a brake drum 10 which is rigidly :fastened to a wheel-like member 1| by bolts 12. The hub portion 13 of the wheel-like member is splined to the inner end 14 of the axle shaft 5| and holds the inner race of ball bearing 54 tightly against the shoulder 51, and is held against accidental axial movement by means of the castellated nut 16. Ball bearing 54 is also held against movement with respect to the axle'tube I0 by means of the shoulder 58, and

the circular spring 59, this spring being seated in an interior annual groove at the inner end of the collar 55. Braking effort is applied to the drum 10 by means of the brake shoe mechanism 11 supported and held against rotation by means of the brake anchor 18 forming a portion of the collar 55. Suitable brake expansion means are also provided but are not shown and may be of conventional form.

In the operation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, two of the dual wheel assemblies are connected to the semi-trailer by conventional springs holding their axle shafts 5| in alignment, with the inner ends of the axle tubes I0, and the outer wheel brake mechanism 10, 1l adjacent each other so that the wheeled portionsv of the assemblies are at the sides of the vehicle. Each o f the inner wheels 30 is free to rotate about its axle tube l0, and the various bearings hold the Wheels 30 and 45 in coaxial relation not only with respect to 'each other, but also with respect .to the axle tube I (land axle shaft 5|, thereby permitting relative rotation of each of the wheels with respect to each other, as well as with respect to the axle tube |0. The inner wheel 30 is held against axial movement with respect to the axle tube IU by means of the bearings I6 and I8, while the outer wheel 45 is normally held against axial movement with respect to the tube I0 and inner mounting studs 40 and nuts 4|.

drum l is transferred through the splined shaft end 14, to the shaft to the outer wheel hub 42 and outer wheel 45, thereby providing independent braking for each of the independently rotatable wheels.

As has been previously described, the inner wheel and tire may be removed or replaced by loosening the bolts 52 and removal of the outer wheel 45 and its hub 42.

Figure 2 of the drawingsillustrates a modification of the invention, and this embodiment and the previously described embodiment differ principally in the provision of an anti-friction bearing between the axle shaft and the inner wheel hub. As illustrated I(,he inner wheel hub 8U is provided with a portion extending outwardly beyond the bearing I8 and this portion ls formed to receive the outer race of the ball bearing 8|, the inner race of which is seated on the inner portion of the axle shaft end 82. The outer wheel hub 83 is similarly elongated, and is provided with a radially inturned flange 84 by which the hub is connected to the axle shaft end 82 through the studs 85.

In other respects the embodiment shown in Figure 2 may be and preferably is substantially similar to the embodiment of Figure l.

In this embodiment the bearing 8| not only serves to maintain the axle shaft 5| concentric with the inner wheel hub 80 when the outer wheel hub 83 has been removed, but also relieves the axle shaft from all strain except, that of the brake torque.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a modication of the form ofthe invention shown in Figure 1 and comprises means whereby the outer wheel may be demountably attached with its dished portion facing in the same direction as that of the inner wheel. As embodied the outer wheel hub |42 is provided with an outwardly extending slightly flared portion |42 upon the outer end of which is formed a radially extending flange |46 in which is arranged the wheel At the point 0f union of hub |42 and flared portion |42 an inwardly extending flange |48 is provided, having apertures Ito accommodate the hub securing bolts 52 by which the hub |42 is secured to the axle head 5G. Outer wheel hub |42 is journaled upon inner wheel-hub 20 with an interposed bushing 43 in the same manner as that described for the form shown in Figure 1, and the remaining structure of the form shown in Figure 3 is also similar to that described in connection with Figure l.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief ad- Vantages.

What I claim is:

l. In a dual wheeled assembly, the combination of a pair of independently rotatable wheels,

mounted side by side at the end of an axle tube,

the inner wheel having an elongated hub on which the outer wheel is rotatably mounted by its hub and from which it may be removed by axial movement, an axle shaft held against, axial movement relative to the axle tube and extending beyond the outer end of the inner wheel hub, the outer wheel hub being flanged to overlie and abut the axle shaft end, screw threaded means extending from the shaft end through apertures in the outer wheel hub flange to hold the outer Wheel against axial movement and permit its removal from the inner wheel hub by release of said screw threaded means.

2. The dual wheeled assembly of claim l in which a brake member is mounted at the inner side of the inner wheel and is fast thereto and a second brake member is mounted at the inner end of the axle shaft and fast thereto.

3. The dual wheeled assembly of claim 1 in which the two wheels are'roppositely dished, a brake drum is rigidly connected to the inner wheel within the dish of the inner Wheel and a second brake drum is rigidly connected to the outer wheel through the axle shaft.

4. The dual wheeled assembly of claim 1 in which the two wheels are oppositely dished, a brake drum is rigidly connected to the inner wheel within the dish of the inner wheel and a second brake drum at the inner end of the axle shaft and rigidly connected to the outer wheel thereby.

CHARLES S. ASH. 

